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CNN Sunday Morning
Ted Kennedy Hospitalized; Polygamist Case Hearings Monday; Olympic Torch Halted
Aired May 18, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: And influential Senator and giant of American politics in the hospital this morning after reportedly suffering a seizure. We're live from Boston to tell you what doctors plan to do for Senator Ted Kennedy.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: Does it make sense to retire now?
C. BURGE: No. Do I want to retire now? Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALINA CHO, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Well, they were packed up and ready to go to their new retirement home, well, until the economy slowed down. And they're not alone.
Also this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Damn, I thought that was closer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Apparently "Indiana Jones" has even had to come out of retirement. Yes, he's back and taking Cannes by storm. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, we are bringing you news from all corners of the globe. Hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Kind of takes you back, doesn't it, to the old days? "Indiana Jones." Good morning, everybody, happy Sunday. I'm Alina Cho. Betty Nguyen has the morning off. It is Sunday may 18th, 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. in the West, and there's a lot to get to.
But we begin this hour with an update on Senator Ted Kennedy's health. Medical experts, this morning, are trying to figure out exactly why the 76-year-old senator had an apparent seizure. Right now he's resting comfortably. Doctors have ruled out a stroke and say the senator is not in any immediate danger.
HOLMES: Certainly good news to hear that. And this is a photo we received yesterday from the "Cape Cod Times," it's showing the senator about to be rushed by helicopter from Cape Cod to Boston. Again, this was yesterday morning when this all went down.
CHO: CNN's Deb Feyerick, monitoring the situation this morning from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, one of the best hospitals in the country.
Hey Deb, good morning. What's the latest?
DEB FEYERICK, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alina and T.J., we can tell that he is in serious condition, 76-year-old, obviously he's had surgery in the past for a blocked artery in his neck, that was to prevent a stroke. And clearly, right now, doctors trying to figure out exactly what triggered this seizure that happened just about 24 hours ago. It's fair to say this is not exactly how the senator thought he would be spending his weekend. He was in Hyannisport at a family home for a charity event, all the Kennedys having gathered there for a charity that the family sponsors.
The senator's primary care physician says that they're trying it figure out what caused the seizure, how to treat whatever may have triggered it, and, of course, whether it is connected to the earlier surgery. The senator did received visitors, yesterday. His niece was there, along with his wife, who was by his bedside, she left later on in the evening.
A spokeswoman tells CNN that right now no updates on how the senator is doing or how he passed the night. Clearly he has been made as comfortable as possible. Yesterday, he was even watching a Red Sox game. They're monitoring his health, they're monitoring his vital statistics, just trying it figure out exactly what's going to happen. And of course, lots of tests today. We are told that probably there will be no definitive answer on what happened until possibly Monday -- Alina, T.J.
CHO: Deb, you mentioned the Red Sox game, certainly encouraging news and also encouraging about an hour-and-a-half after admitted to that hospital in Cape Cod, he actually was well enough to make a phone call to cancel his lunch, so that is all encouraging. I know you have been watching what the candidates have been saying about Kennedy on the campaign trail. So, what do they say?
FEYERICK: Well, you know, there was obviously immediate concern and thousands of phone calls and e-mails and letters, trying to reach out to the people to share their support with the senator.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know that we all join together in wishing him well.
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With think he's going to be OK, but I just want everybody to -- I want everybody to keep Ted Kennedy and his family, his wonderful wife Vicki, in our thoughts and in our prayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: Of course his colleagues in the Senate, there, who just happen to be seeking the presidential nomination -- Alina, T.J.
CHO: Senator John Kerry, the junior Senator of Massachusetts, also paying him a visit. Deb Feyerick, I know you are watching the situation very closely. Deb, thank you -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Alina. Let's get a little insight now into the senator's health from our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He talked with Rick Sanchez by phone about seizures, strokes and the procedure that senator underwent last Fall on a blocked artery.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: People kept saying: was this a seizure, was this a stroke? What people probably don't realize is that sometimes the first presentation of someone who is having a stroke or an inadequate blood supply to the brain, more specifically, could be a seizure. The operation you are talking about, Rick, basically it's -- think of it as sort of rotorootering the artery. It based a little (AUDIO GAP) and based on our statistical analysis of this, we say, look, if it gets much blockage, a certain percentage, we know that the person is at a higher risk of having a stroke.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And coming up in 25 minutes, we will talk with "Boston Globe" columnist, Kevin Cullen about Senator Kennedy. He has known the senator for 25 years and covered him for much of that time.
CHO: Well, we have this just in to us. The Olympic torch relay has been suspended in the wake of that violent earthquake that rocked central China on Monday. We've also learned that the earthquake has been upgraded to a magnitude 8.0 from 7.9 and the death toll continues to rise. The latest official count, more than 32,000 people killed, but some say that figure could rise to 50,000. Our Eunice Yoon is on the phone with us from Chengdu, China, that is near the epicenter of the quake.
You've covered many of these disasters. Eunice, let's talk first about the torch relay suspension. That has to do with the three-day mourning period that's been announced, correct?
EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely correct, Alina. China announce three days of national mourning to honor the memory of the upwards of 30,000 people who have died in the last week because of that powerful earthquake on Monday at 2:28 p.m. Local Time. That is exactly one week after the quake struck.
(AUDIO GAP) are observing a mourning period with three minutes of silence. Government buildings will be flying the national flag at half majority, air raid sirens were wail in grief along with the hundreds of millions of people who live in this country who are still dumbfounded by this death toll of this natural disaster.
Now, the Beijing Olympic organizers have said that they will suspend the torch relay for those three days, but the relay will go on through -- and wind its way really through Sichuan Province, itself, next month -- Alina.
CHO: That is incredible that they are going to resume that torch relay in the face of what has happened, there. The pictures are just incredible, Eunice. As we talked about in the last hour or so, U.S. aid flights, two of them, I believe, have touched down in central China, they're loaded with relief supplies like blanket and water, food. Have you gotten word that the victims are receiving that aid just yet?
YOON: They are going to start receiving it relatively soon. I mean, part of the reason why there has been this overwhelming need for a mourning period is because of the sense on the ground that the rescue effort is starting to shift into a recovery effort. There have been some very miraculous tales of survival here, but for the most part the rescue workers are starting to feel less optimistic that they are going to find people alive.
Now, the focus of the energy has been on the millions of refugees and that is where the U.S. aid comes in, those two American military transport planes are going to be distributing those blanket, tents, water, power generators, lanterns, as well, thousands of meals to many of these survivors and this is a very significant move because of the United States said that they remain ready to assist in any way possible, which is interesting because the Chinese are now accepting more international aid including this American aid -- Alina.
CHO: A diplomatic departure, for sure, to accept that lane from long-time rivals like Japan, and also, even Taiwan, getting involved. Eunice Yoon, joining us by phone from Chengdu, China. Eunice, thank you.
HOLMES: A United Nations top envoy will try to get Myanmar's military rulers to open up that country to international aid.
CHO: It's been a big problem. Many countries and aid organizations have tried unsuccessfully to get Myanmar's strict military rulers to grant access to international aid organizations. They are allowing the aid, but not granting visas to the aid workers. And getting aid to the people in the affected region, as many of you know, is critical at this point, especially for the children. The International Red Cross says starvation and disease could push the cyclone death toll well over 128,000. Myanmar's government says there have been no major outbreaks of disease so far, but we are watching that situation very, very closely. And we know that you may want to help out in the face of this, at CNN.com you can. We have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar complete with links to aid agencies, offering help for the region. It is a chance for you to impact your world.
HOLMES: President Bush in Egypt and on the world stage calling on Mideast leaders to advanced democracy and outlining his vision for a peace agreement. Last hour, the president addressed the World Economic Forum from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh. And Middle East correspondent Aneesh Raman joins us now live with the details on this.
Aneesh, this is at the World Economic Forum, but still, a whole lot more than the economy on the mind of the president.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, exactly. T.J. Good morning. We should first note that President Bush has now left Egypt, he is en route home. And as you mentioned, he's en route after delivering a major address to the World Economic Forum, here. It was a broad call for sweeping reforms in the Middle East. President Bush said these countries need to open up their economies, need to open up their democracies. He called for broader women's rights. But of course, a main point that he's been making throughout this weekend in Sharm el Sheikh is his hope to see a defined Palestinian state by year's end, a peace agreement, essentially, between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He spoke about that in his speech. It only came about halfway through, but President Bush acknowledged the difficult task at hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a demanding task. It requires action on all sides. Palestinians must fight terror and continue to build the institutions of a free and peaceful society. Israel must take tough sacrifices for peace, ease restrictions on Palestinians. Arab states, especially oil-rich nations, must seize this opportunity to invest aggressively in the Palestinian people and to move past their old resentments against Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMAN: Now T.J., the White House says that they are optimistic, hopeful amid intense negotiations, as they describe them, between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But of course, on the ground there's a lot of skepticism. First the White House isn't releasing specifics saying those need to remain confidential for the sake of the talks. But, just to mention a few hurdles, beyond the stuff that preceded President Bush's time in office, he's in his last year in office, the Israeli prime minister is facing a bribery scandal in Israel, and the Palestinian president is dealing with a divided people. So, it's not just about the leaders coming to some agreement, but whether they can sell the people on whatever they decide -- T.J.
HOLMES: And You just hit it there, again. Talk about optimism from the Bush administration, but skepticism there, on the ground, so many moving parts, so many players, here. We've seen talk before. Any indication, any real hope this time again from those on the ground?
RAMAN: T.J.?
HOLMES: You still there, buddy? All right, looks like we might have just lost Aneesh there, in Sharm el Sheikh. But, we do appreciate him reporting again from the Red Sea report. The president giving a speech this morning at the World Economic Forum to Arab leaders, trying to move forward on his agenda to get Middle East peace.
CHO: Yeah, and you talk about that optimism on the part of the president. You know, eight months left in this presidency, hopefully he says for a peace agreement, but certainly that is an ambitious goal. Many presidents before him have tried to do it.
HOLMES: A lot to do in a short time.
CHO: Change will be difficult. Stay with us, coming up on this Sunday morning, the laughter at a church picnic interrupted by gunfire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw kids just running and screaming. At that point we knew something was wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Children sent scrambling after an angry ex-husband opens fire.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT STEVE RUIZ, LOS ANGELES POLICE: He gave his child -- young child a kiss on the cheek, proceeded to remove the weapon and take aim at the mother of the child.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Wow, a distraught father allegedly opens fire at a church festival in Los Angeles. Police say Fernando Diaz, Jr. and his ex-wife were fighting over the custody of their son when Diaz went to the church fundraiser and started shooting.
CHO: Yeah, authorities are calling it a domestic dispute. Police say Diaz shot his ex-wife and two bystanders, one of them was critically injured. And that's just one of the stories we are following this Sunday morning. Want to get a quick check of the other stories.
HOLMES: Yeah, more than 3,000 people in La Fayette, Louisiana, hope to return home by tonight. HAZMAT crews are hoping to clean up a derailment of a train caustic hydrochloric acid. Officials ordered a mandatory evacuation within a mile of the derailment, because of toxic fumes. At least five people have been treated for eye and skin irritations.
CHO: Yeah, that story broke on our watch, yesterday. Moving closer to horse racing history, possibly the first Triple Crown in 30 years.
HOLMES: Yeah, "Big Brown" running away at the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby winner capturing the second leg of the Triple Crown. All that is left now, the Belmont Stakes in three weeks, not always easy. Three times in the last six years we've seen the horse win the first two and then lose at the Belmont. "Affirmed," though, was the last to complete the Triple Crown and that was back in '78. So, 30 years since we saw a Triple Crown.
CHO: It's been a generation. But, you know the jockey who rode "Affirmed" actually talked by phone to one of the reporters for "Sports Illustrated," and said, you know, he looks pretty special, it was a cakewalk for him. So, sounds like a good omen, don't want to curse him.
HOLMES: They said it was a weak field, though. He didn't have much competition at the Preakness.
CHO: Yeah, but you know, Triple Crown is a big deal.
HOLMES: It's a big deal. We'll see if he can pull it off. Our Bonnie Schneider in for Reynolds Wolf.
Always good to have you with us on the weekend, here. Good morning, again, we were talking about hot temperatures out in California, but not just hot.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right. Excessively hot. Heat warnings in effect, not just for California but Arizona and Nevada with good reason. Check out yesterday's record high temperatures. It got all the way up into the triple digits across areas of California, 95 in Portland, more to come today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
Yes, more rain headed for you, 80 percent chance, Alina.
HOLMES: Eight? That's a lot.
CHO: Thanks, Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Sure. Thank you.
CHO: Heading back to New York today, I might have some delays.
HOLMES: But hey, we'll take you for a couple more days.
CHO: That's right, we can hang out, have a little lunch. We did it last time I was down here.
Hey, the four corners on the campaign trail, coming up.
HOLMES: President Bush changing the debates setting off a storm between the three remaining presidential candidates. We're live in Washington for an analysis on what it all means on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, now just two days until the primaries. Oregon and Kentucky vote on Tuesday and we will get to more on that in just a moment. But CNN political producer, Sasha Johnson, joins us right now.
Start first, though, with Ted Kennedy's health. Of course, he meant a lot to Barak Obama when he endorsed him. What does this mean going forward? Of course there's always a political component even though we talk of a health issue, but still, politically moving forward, any impact on Obama?
SASHA JOHNSON, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: I mean, assuming that Ted Kennedy is OK, which obviously everyone hope that he is, I'm sure that we'll see him back out on the trail for Barak Obama. But, as we know, his endorsement and some members of his family's endorsement was a huge defining moment for Barak Obama earlier in the campaign and probably will be going forward because sort of shows the establishment backing of Obama and that's a big deal for him.
HOLMES: All right, let's talk about what I found remarkable last week in that Hillary Clinton could pull off a 40-plus point victory in West Virginia and it wasn't even on the radar. We had the stir-up about the appeasement comments from President Bush and then you just got this whole back and forth and then you have the John Edwards' endorsement. So, how bad of a week was it when it should have been a really big week for Hillary Clinton?
JOHNSON: Well, you know, I mean, that sort of shows kind of where we are. I mean, you know, her campaign and Senator Clinton herself has said that she wants to see this process through. It still is in her opinion and by in large by a lot of others' opinion, a very close race. They expect a big win in Kentucky on Tuesday. She sees no reason to exit stage left and Barak Obama certainly isn't going to push her out. But, I think that the campaign and Senator Clinton and reporter who are with her sort of acknowledge this, that, you know, it was a blow that they could have a big of a win. She came out and gave interviews across the board the after her big win, and then there's John Edwards and then there's this foreign policy debate injected into the campaign. And Hillary Clinton was forced to come out and defend Barak Obama against President Bush's comments and I would imagine that was somewhat of hard thing to do.
HOLMES: I'd imagine. That foreign policy debate you talk about that kind of cropped up, a good and bad for Obama. I guess, good because it appears -- I mean, it's always good for any Democrat to appear opposite of George Bush and George Bush, of course, not a very popular president, according to some of his approval numbers. But also, to be able to have this debate it's also something that is not his strong suit, many would say. So, kind of good and bad, he has to talk foreign policy on the other side of President Bush, but at the same time, you know what, its reminds people that he doesn't have that background and all that experience when it comes to foreign policy. JOHNSON: It does, but if you listen to this comments that, you know, later in the week and over the weekend, he is doing everything possible to tie George Bush and John McCain together which in some circles, kind of erases Barak Obama's problems, if you will, when it comes to foreign policy. I think the latest right track/wrong track numbers, you know, in a recent "Washington Post" poll had 82 percent of people thinking that things aren't going well in the United States, right now, so they blame that on George Bush. If Barak Obama can tie problems in Iraq, problems with Iran, if he can tie McCain and Bush together, it could actually come up being a positive for him as he says I want to do things differently.
HOLMES: All right, got to let you go here, now. But, there's something else we're certainly keeping an eye on, it's that Barak Obama appears to be moving to general election mode attacking McCain more. He and Hillary Clinton not mentioning each other's names, anymore. But, he's been to Michigan, he's been to Florida, he's been to Missouri, Iowa now, he's going to.
JOHNSON: On Tuesday.
HOLMES: On Tuesday. So, it certainly appears that the general election is about to get underway. Sasha Johnson, we will see you the entire general election, as well, I'm sure. Thank you as always.
JOHNSON: Right. Thanks.
HOLMES: And you can hear from the candidates uncensored as they talk about the economy, jobs and more issue us care about. BALLOT BOWL, this afternoon, 4:00. Then join the best political team on television, Tuesday night, as they bring results from the primaries in Oregon and Kentucky. You can catch that beginning at 7:00 Eastern.
CHO: And 6:00 a.m. Eastern on AMERICAN MORNING, that's on Tuesday, as well. Got to do a shameless plug.
Four seasons hotels -- switching gears -- are known for exceptional service, but it all started with a man's simple plan. Just listen to this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES (voice over): Isadore Sharp went from construction worker to CEO of the Four Seasons Hotel. Sharp was building a motel for a friend in Toronto when he decided to do the same. In 1961, he opened the Four Seasons Motor Hotel, which later became the exclusive hotel and resort chain.
ISADORE SHARP, CEO, FOUR SEASONS: There was no vision. There was no grand dream. I was just making a business deal, building a hotel, not a company.
HOLMES: There are 76 Four Seasons Hotels in more than 30 countries and 45 more in the works. Sharp says not having a hotel industry background let him look at things from a consumer's perspective. SHARP: We were the first and the first hotel to put shampoo in the bathroom. I grew up with three sisters, so I knew women never washed their hair with soap.
HOLMES: Innovations as simple as shampoo and telephones in the bathroom set the Four Seasons Hotels apart. But Sharp says the biggest difference is his employees.
SHARP: It's the people on the firing line, day in, day out, 24/7, they're the ones that really make each hotel the best.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Imagine that, just shampoo in the bathrooms, started with one hotel, look at him now.
HOLMES: Well, we will turn back to China's earthquake and it's having an immediate impact on the Summer Olympics.
CHO: Yeah, that news is just breaking -- happened about an hour ago, that we've learned that the torch relay has now been suspended. We will have all the details just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING, I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Good morning, T.J. Happy Sunday. Good morning, everybody, I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the morning off. And here's a quick look at our top stories.
China, today, announced three days of national mourning for victims of last week's devastating earthquake. We've just learned that the Olympic torch relay has been suspended as a result. Also today, the official death toll was raised to more than 32,000.
HOLMES: President Bush heading home, right now, from Egypt. In a speech last hour he called on Mideast countries to make sweeping changes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Are you ready?
CROWD: Ready.
KENNEDY: Are you ready?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And doctors this morning are trying to figure out why Senator Ted Kennedy had an apparent seizure. That's him at a ribbon cutting ceremony just a couple of days ago. Doctors have ruled out a stroke and say the senator is not in any immediate danger. Thirty-one minutes after the hour. And we begin this half hour with an update. Senator Kennedy is said to be resting comfortably and will undergo more tests over the next couple of days. "Boston Globe" columnist, Kevin Cullen has known the senator for 25 years. He's covered the senator, as well. He joins us now by phone from Boston.
And I know you say in your column, this morning, Kevin, that Ted Kennedy is no Spring chicken, but I know you saw him recently and you say he looked pretty good, right?
KEVIN CULLEN, BOSTON GLOBE: He looked very good. I mean, I think everybody has noticed that Teddy has lost some weight. I think he was getting ready, as he put it, getting in fighting fit form because I think he was going to on the road a lot for Obama over the next few months, presuming that Obama locks up the nomination.
CHO: And let's talk a little more about that because as many know Senator Kennedy endorsed Senator Obama along with his niece Caroline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy writing an incredible Op-Ed piece in the "New York Times" saying that Obama is really the first politician to inspire her like her father did. I know the Kennedys were expected to get on the campaign trail. Are you hearing anything from your sources inside the Kennedy family or outside about what might happen next given what's happened?
CULLEN: I think it's way too early to say anything about that. I mean, they've got to figure out what went wrong. You know, there's going to be at least a couple days of tests to find out what happened to the senator. I mean they ruled out a stroke, but they don't exactly what caused the seizure, so I think it is just too premature to say whether this is going to affect his schedule, whether he can return to senatorial duties and whether he can return to the campaign trail for Obama.
CHO: Well, Senator Obama calls Teddy, as he calls him, one of his favorite people, certainly he is in everyone's thoughts and prayers at this point, including yours. You say in your opening line in your piece today that it was more than just a little poignant that Ted Kennedy fell ill in Hyannisport. You mention his father. Talk about that, because I find this aspect of the story very interesting.
CULLEN: Yeah, well, 47 years ago, old Joe Kennedy had a stroke while playing golf down in Palm Beach where Kennedy family generally spent their Winters, but he convalesced, spent the remaining eight years of his life in a wheelchair in that very Hyannisport compound, where Ted Kennedy fell ill, yesterday. And you know, it's worth remembering that Joe Kennedy was three years younger than Teddy is right now when he fell ill. And I said, just to think of that, to think that he got sick in that very same spot where his father spent the last eight years of his life confined to a wheelchair. As I pointed out today, he was in that wheelchair when people came up and told him that Jack Kennedy had been assassinated, he was in that wheelchair in 1968 when people came up and told him that Bobby had been assassinated. It's just very moving when you think about it in those terms. CHO: Yeah, it most certainly is. I know you say in your piece: "Ted Kennedy has always been a fighter and he needs to fight now because he isn't done. Go for it Teddy! Go for it!" I know he's in your thoughts and all of ours as well. Thank you for joining us, Kevin Cullen, of the "Boston globe," with your insight -- T.J.
HOLMES: Alina, hundreds of children take money the polygamous sect in Texas will have their cases reviewed in court beginning tomorrow. One key issue, exactly how old many of the teenage mothers are? CNN's David Mattingly has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The allegations of child sexual abuse and forced marriages at this polygamist compound were shocking, the reported numbers even worse. Officials said more than half of the 53 girls taken into Texas state custody were pregnant, had children or both. But two months after the raid on the YFC Ranch in West Texas, the state's numbers seemed to be coming apart.
SUSAN HAYS, ATTORNEY: Some of these young mothers learned if they were considered minors they got to stay with their children. But, if they were 18 the state was going to take their children away from them. So, what is a 19-year-old mother do? That's what's happened.
MATTINGLY: Two of those mothers recently gave birth; one was 18, the other 22. She spoke to Austin CNN affiliate KXAN.
LOUISA JESSOP, POLYGAMIST MOTHER: I'm not really scared...because I know Heavenly Father will see us through.
I would like to be with my children and my husband and live in a home where we can take care of them.
MATTINGLY: And attorney for the sect says the number of true underage mothers is very small.
ROD PARKER, FLDS SPOKESMAN: There are five actual minors out of the 464 who are either mothers or are alleged to be pregnant.
MATTINGLY (on camera): State officials say they have been frustrated, not getting clear answers when they ask about ages and trying to match kids to their biological parents. DNA testing is still not complete. They maintain they had no choice but to take all of the 400-plus children into custody. They've alleged that the sect had a practice of forcing underage girls to marry older men, placing all of the girls at risk of abuse and all of the boys at risk of becoming abusers.
(voice over): Judges will examine the case of each child individually starting Monday. It's just the beginning of a process to determine how the kids might be allowed to go back to their families. The state can demand a lot of conditions, it's possible families would even be asked to move away from the ranch and start a life on their own, to show they are protecting their children from abuse.
David Mattingly, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The Olympic torch, not going anywhere, right now. Our Josh Levs watching a developing story for us this morning.
Good morning.
JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, good morning to you. China's announcement this morning will also affect its embassies all over the world -- and will a billion people stand in silence? That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back. Earlier this morning we reported that the Olympic torch run has been temporarily halted out of respect for the earthquake victims in China. A three-day mourning period has been announced there.
HOLMES: Our Josh Levs joins us now with more on this from the international desk.
Hello, sir.
LEVS: Yeah, he there. Obviously, I'm at the international desk right in the middle of the CNN NEWSROOM, as you were just saying. We're following the story closely today because this is something that people all over the world have been watching, the progress and sometimes the trouble with that Olympic torch. As you know, we've been following it closely. We've had video throughout the time as it's travelled all over the country -- all over the world, sometimes facing protests. Well, right now, today, one of our top stories, I'm going to show you over here on this screen, is three days of mourning called now for quake victims.
What we are telling you here is that something that the Chinese government has announced. And I'm going to show you China's announcement, right here. This is from the Xinhua News Agency, it's run by the Chinese government. They're announcing here that because of three days of mourning, the Olympic torch will actually stop traveling. But it's also going to do a lot more than that. Along the way, they're calling for flags to be kept at half mast; they're calling for the government to make changes. They're calling for the entire population to stop. The public are asked to stand in silence for three minutes on Monday. Now, that seems like a normal line. But think about it, China has more than a billion people. Will more than a billion people for three minutes be able to stand still in silence? That will be fascinating. We'll be keeping a close eye on that tomorrow.
One more thing I want to so you, here. This is pretty cool. You can follow the path of the Olympic torch, as it goes all over the world. This is from the official site of the torch itself. You're able to click on any of the cities it's been to and over here through the arrows you can continue to follow where it's planning to go from there.
Obviously we will have the details breaking for you throughout the day, right here at the international desk. You can see them, busy right now, they're all over it. We will have the video. We're also going to keep a close eye on that tomorrow during those moments of silence and see we'll how that plays out in China and how it plays out at diplomatic missions all over the world -- T.J., Alina.
HOLMES: All right, Josh, we appreciate you. And appreciate you keeping an eye on that for us.
Up next here, we'll be talking about dreams delayed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: Does it make sense to retire now?
C. BURGE: No. Do I want to retire now? Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Probably feels like a lot of people do. You know, they were packed up and ready to go until the economy slows down. And they are not alone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: They are supposed to be the golden years, but for many empty nesters looking forward to retirement, gowning expenses and shrinking 401(k)s forcing them to put their plans on hold.
CHO: That's right, the economy is Issue No. 1 and CNN's Allan Chernoff talked with one couple who unfortunately has had to put retirement on hold.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Charles and Anna Burge had already started packing, expecting they'd retire this year to their condominium in Florida. They wrapped up the china, took down pictures and filled up cardboard boxes.
CHARLES BURGE, DELAYING RETIREMENT: Where you're standing now, our dining room table was here. We sold our kitchen table.
CHERNOFF: But then the housing market collapsed. And then the stock market took a hit, bruising the Burge's 401(k) retirement account. And now the price of gas is soaring.
(on camera): Does it make sense to retire now?
C. BURGE: No. Do I want to retire now? Yes.
CHERNOFF (voice over): Charles and Anna's dream of an early retirement is on hold even though 53-year-old Charles can get an annual pension worth nearly two-thirds of his salary if he retires from his job as a superintendent with New York City's sanitation department.
C. BURGE: I have college to pay for. I have gas to pay for on three cars. It just doesn't make sense.
CHERNOFF: The value of their family home has dropped. And realtors warn the couple it could take nearly a year to sell even at today's reduced price, which they would need to do to retire.
ANNA BURGE, DELAYING RETIREMENT: I was very disappointed. I was crying because I just want to go (ph).
CHERNOFF (on camera): A growing number of aging baby boomers are deferring dreams of retirement. In the past year, nearly a million Americans aged 55 to 64 have rejoined the work force. And another 400,000 over the age of 65 have gone back to work.
(voice over): Financial planner, David Frisch says Charles is only one of his clients who is putting off retirement.
DAVID FRISCH, FINANCIAL PLANNER: People are scared. People are scared. The ultimate question is, how long is the market going to be suffering? How much will expenses rise? How long will it take for the housing market to come back into play?
CHERNOFF: Charles now plans to retire in three years when he hopes the real estate market will have recovered. Anna is counting on it, leaving her fine china exactly where it is.
A. BURGE: Now, everything stays in the box. It's too much. Too aggravation to take everything out of the box again and then start to pack again. So everything is going to be in the box.
CHERNOFF (on camera): For three years.
A. BURGE: For three years.
CHERNOFF (voice over): The Burge's are still determined to retire early. But, for a growing number of Americans, the whole idea of early retirement or even retirement at age 65 is no longer an option.
Allan Chernoff, CNN, Corum (ph), New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: And for a daily dose of economic news that can directly affect your finances, keep it here at CNN, tune in weekdays at Noon Eastern Time to ISSUE NO. 1 with Ali Velshi and Gerri Willis.
HOLMES: Well, it's time for us now to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN's RELIABLE SOURCES.
Good morning, Howard. HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning, T.J. Coming up, Barbara Walters dishes about being the first woman at just about everything. the time she felt like an absolute failure and a romantic life so busy you wonder how she had time to on TV. Fascinating interview.
The media blows the whistle on John McCain over a previous interview on dealing with Hamas, but were they duped by and edited video?
Plus Hillary wins West Virginia in a landslide in journalists can't stifle their yawns.
That and anchors dropping the F-bomb, ahead on RELIABLE SOURCES.
HOLMES: Whoa, be careful.
KURTZ: Watch that language.
HOLMES: Yes, we certainly will. Howard Kurtz for us, we will be tuning in. See you soon.
CHO: Don't want to miss that.
With two more primaries coming up this Tuesday, the Democratic candidates are on the campaign trail, today. Here's the rundown: Barak Obama has events in Oregon, Hillary Clinton is in Kentucky again today, both sticking with the states they are expected to win on Tuesday. As for John McCain, well, he's back in Washington.
HOLMES: Well, he spent his Saturday night in New York specifically, his "Saturday Night Live" in New York.
CHO: That's right. That's right. Making another appearance on NBC. Got a chance to try a little comedy with a couple of cameos on "Saturday Night Live." Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My friends, controlling government spending isn't just about Republicans or Democrats, it's about being able to look your children in the eye, or in my case my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great- grandchildren, and great-great-great-grandchildren. The youngest of whom are nearing retirement. And tell them we have left you the same thing we were left, a future free from debt. As your president I will guarantee it. I have the courage, the wisdom, the experience, and most importantly, the oldness necessary. The oldness is takes to protect America, to honor her, love her, and tell her about what cute things the cat did. Thank you and good night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And all of it said with a straight face. You know, there's Steve Carell formerly of "The Office" as the host, there. A little later, John McCain had a message for Democrats telling them to take their time choosing a candidate. Of course, a lot of talk about the protracted Democratic fight being good for the Republicans, right, in the general election, but McCain poking fun at his age, he's 71.
HOLMES: Nice, he can be able do that, poke a little fun at yourself and people always appreciate that. He's done that on that show a couple times, poke fun at himself.
CHO: He has, and if he becomes president at 72, he will be the oldest president in U.S. history. It did well on "Saturday Night Live."
Hey, coming up, you don't want to miss this, "Indiana Jones" whipping into action.
HOLMES: Yeah, the latest adventure and the search for lost treasure. Our entertainment correspondent, Brooke Anderson interviews the man himself, "Indiana Jones," Harrison Ford.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Danger, mystery and the quest for treasure.
CHO: That's right, "Indiana Jones" is back on the big screen, debuting at the Cannes Film Festival. And our Brooke Anderson sat down with the man himself...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, we are now hearing an echo on the air.
CHO: Harrison Ford.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: After a nearly two decade wait, "Indiana Jones" is returning to the Silver Screen, here at the Cannes Film Festival. I caught up with star, Harrison Ford, who opened up to me about being an older Indy, this time around.
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR: Damn, I thought that was closer.
ANDERSON: How does it feel to be back as "Indiana Jones?"
FORD: Well, it's a great pleasure. It's a great pleasure because; the experience was a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure to be part of the kind of film that brings so much to an audience. To be able to make another film after this 20 year period.
ANDERSON: You're a more mature "Indiana Jones."
FORD: No, I'm not more mature. I'm 20 years old.
ANDERSON: Were there challenges?
FORD: Challenges? Challenges? No, no, no, no.
ANDERSON: Because of the 20 year... FORD: No, not really. I mean, I've always tried to be as fit as possible to mitigate against injury and I wanted to be, you know, remain injury-free during this one, so I did get as fit as I could.
ANDERSON: And you were injury-free?
FORD: Yeah, yeah.
ANDERSON: Oh, great. Great.
FORD: I haven't been hurt by anything, waiting for the reviews, but we'll see.
ANDERSON: Do you think "Indiana Jones," because it has incredible appeal, will be bulletproof regardless...
FORD: Nothing is bulletproof. People take shots at the pope. There's nothing bulletproof. And that's why you don't have this, you know, expectation that what you're producing is going to be wildly admired. But, when you make it for people and you understand how the machinery of it all works as Steven and George do, I hope I have some understanding of, you reach for the best of your professional capacity. We're storytellers. People don't want to hear us tell a story badly. You know? And so we all, all of us, you know, feel the obligation to work at our highest levels.
ANDERSON: Are you proud of the film?
FORD: I am. I'm damn proud of it.
Put your hands down, will you? You're embarrassing us.
ANDERSON: Director, Steven Spielberg told me he's a bit anxious about showing the film, but that he too is very proud of it. Reporting from the 61st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, Brooke Anderson, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Brooke has all the tough assignments, doesn't she?
HOLMES: She does. Poor girl.
CHO: Poor thing. To stay in Cannes for all that time.
HOLMES: Well, our Betty Nguyen is off this weekend. She's not just out partying, as she normally is when she is off on the weekends. She's being honored at her university -- honored this weekend by her alma mater, the University of Texas. She was magna cum laude, actually there, in Texas.
CHO: Overachiever.
HOLMES: Look at her.
CHO: Looking gorgeous, there. Hey, she received the Outstanding Young Texas Texas Exes Award. The award was actually founded way back in 1885 to praise and promote the university by honoring its outstanding alumni. Take a listen to her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: I wake up at 4:00 a.m. On Saturdays and Sundays to do the newscast, so. I don't have much of a life. So, when I look back, I look back with fond memories. But you know, when I got to UTM, speaking of 4:00 a.m., that's when I would just pretty much be coming home from studying, of course, mom. Hi, mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Don't believe that for a second, people. Do not let that cute innocent little face fool you for one second. OK?
CHO: There she is behind us. Betty, good job.
HOLMES: Betty's a little -- that's a little much right now.
CHO: Good job, Betty.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: But, congratulations to you, Betty, she will be back with us soon. So, we look forward to that. And I'm sure she'll bring the award in and put it on the wall and all that stuff.
CHO: The dress was something. Coming up next on RELIABLE SOURCES, the co-host of "The View," Barbara Walters.
HOLMES: Yeah, she is discussing her new tell-all book, her memoir, "Audition."
CHO: And, ahead at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on LATE EDITION, Wolf Blitzer talks with Senator Hillary Clinton about her strategy for the remaining primaries. But first, a check of the top developments.
HOLMES: The Olympic torch relays suspended as China declares three days of national mourning for victims of Monday's earthquake. A moment of silence will be observed tomorrow at the exact time the quake struck Sichuan Province a week ago. The official number of dead now stands at 32,477.
Senator Ted Kennedy remains in a Boston hospital as doctors try to find out exactly what caused his apparent seizure. His doctor says he did not suffer a stroke yesterday and is not in any immediate danger. But the photos tell a different story, quite scary there, if you take a look. The "Cape Cod Times" photo shows the 76-year-old senator about to be flown to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, yesterday.
